Short term effect of aqueous extracts of root, pod, and stem of Telfairia occidentalis on some biochemical parameters in rats

This study investigates the effect of fourteen (14) -day administration of Telfairia occidentalis root, pod and stem aqueous extracts on rats. Sixty four (64) Wister albino rats of both sexes were assigned to sixteen (16) groups of 4 animals per group. Different groups received distilled water and, root, stem, and pod extracts at the doses of 250, 750, 1500, 2250, and 3000mg/kg of body weight. All animals were treated for 14 days and sacrificed on the 15 th day. The biochemical assay results show that the root extract caused significant decreases in the activities of alanine amino transferses (ALT) and aspartate amino transferase (AST) at lower concentrations (250mg/kg and 750mg/kg), while the stem extract showed significant increase in their activities at 3000mg/kg. The pod extract had no effect on ALT and AST. Also the stem extract showed significant increase in the activities of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and reduction in the concentration of serum sodium ion. Serum creatinine (not urea) was elevated when the pod extract was administered at the lowest dose (250mg/kg). Conversely, the stem extract caused a reduction in the concentration of creatinine at 250-, 750- and 1500mg/kg. There was no significant effect on serum total protein and albumin by all the extracts. The stem extract showed a significant increase in the liver- body weight ratio when administered at 750mg/kg and 1500mg/kg dosage. Thus, while Telfairia occidentalis root, pod, and stem extracts may have varying protective and toxic effects on liver and kidney function parameters, their effects may be dosage- and duration- dependent.© JASEM